Video data recording and reproduction apparatus having a plurality of input/output control devices

ABSTRACT

A video data recording and reproduction apparatus in which a plurality of input/output control circuits input and output video data between the recording and reproducing apparatus and external apparatus based on a control signal received from an external apparatus, predetermined special effect processing is performed on the video data reproduced from the storage medium by the recording and reproduction apparatus, and the recording and reproduction apparatus store this processed video data on the storage medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an audio and/or video data recordingand reproduction apparatus for recording video data of the digitalformat and reproducing the recorded audio and/or video data.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, in a television broadcasting station, a video to betelecast in a news program etc. is usually produced by recording andindividually managing the video (stock video) and audio serving as thebasis of the video to be telecast by a TV camera etc. including a videotape recorder (VTR) on video tapes and having an editor use a VTR in theediting room according to need to reproduce one or more of the audioand/or video data (AV data) recorded on the video tapes and combiningthe reproduced stock videos to record the video to be actually broadcaston another tape.

However, when the stock videos are managed in the state recorded onvideo tapes, the work efficiency in selecting the necessary videos fromamong the large number of stock videos becomes poor. Further, there alsoexists a need to convey the tapes on which the stock videos are recordedfrom the storage place to the editing room. Further, it is difficult fora number of editors to use the same stock videos. Such a problem isparticularly notable when a large number of stock videos are used forthe production of one news video.

Further, the news video produced on the tape is generally carried to andload by hand into a VTR for transmitting the program or a cart machinecontaining the VTR for transmitting the program. However, since it isnecessary to perform the operations such as management of the newsvideos or changing the order of transmission at the stage oftransmitting the program by hand, the efficiency is poor and mistakescan occur due to human error, so the system lacks reliability.

In order to solve such a problem, use is made of a so-called serversystem as used in a computing system for enabling centralized managementand use of the stock videos or the videos for broadcast and thereforeshared use of stock videos.

FIG. 1 is a view of an example of the configuration of a example of aserver system 8 for audio and/or video data.

As shown in FIG. 1, the server system 8 is basically configured by thebasic component elements of the computer, that is, a CPU 401, ROM 402,RAM 403, high speed bus 404, device interfaces 405_(m), data recordingand reproduction apparatus 406_(m) connected via the same, input/outputinterfaces 407_(n), audio and/or video data compressing means 408_(n)connected via the same, and audio and/or video data expanding means409_(n) corresponding to the audio and/or video data compressing means408_(n).

Further, where the server system 8 is realized on a computer differentfrom the host application system, a LAN use interface 411 connecting aLAN 410 and the server system 8 is provided.

When the server system 8 records the audio and/or video data, the audioand/or video data compressing means 408_(n) compress the input audioand/or video data S40_(n) to generate the compressed audio and/or videodata S41_(n) and transfer the same via the input/output interfaces407_(n) to the high speed bus 404.

The compressed audio and/or video data transferred to the high speed bus404 are usually temporarily stored (buffered) in the RAM 403 for thedata flow rate control etc. and then transferred to the bus 404 againand appropriately recorded in the data recording and reproductionapparatuses 406_(m) via the device interfaces 405_(m).

Further, when the server system 8 reproduces the audio and/or videodata, the compressed audio and/or video data recorded in the datarecording and reproduction apparatuses 406_(n) are reproduced and thentransferred via the device interfaces 405_(m) to the high speed bus 404.

The compressed audio and/or video data transferred to the high speed bus404 are buffered in the RAM 403 for the data flow rate control etc. inthe same way as that at the recording, transferred again to the highspeed bus 404, pass through the input/output interfaces 407_(n), andbecome the input data S42_(n) to the audio and/or video data expandingmeans 409_(n).

The audio and/or video data expanding means 409_(n) decode the videosignals S43_(n) from the input data S42_(n) and output the same from thesystem.

When the server system 8 records and reproduces the audio and/or videodata, the operations of all of the input/output interfaces 407_(n), thehigh speed bus 404, and the device interfaces 405_(m) are controlled bythe CPU 401 based on the commands transferred from the applicationsystem via the LAN 410, LAN use interface 411, high speed bus 404, andRAM 403.

Note that, where the operation commands are supplied from not theapplication system, but from the input/output side of the video signal,control lines S44_(n) connected to the input/output interfaces 407_(n)as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1 become necessary. In thiscase, the commands supplied from the control lines S44_(n) arecommunicated to the CPU 401 via the input/output interfaces 407_(n), thehigh speed bus 404, and the RAM 403, and the CPU 401 controls theoperation of the input/output interfaces 407_(n), high speed bus 404,and the device interfaces 405_(m) based on the commands supplied fromthe control lines S44_(n).

FIG. 2 is a view of the configuration of an editing system 9 using theserver system 8 shown in FIG. 1.

When audio and/or video data are edited by using the server system 8, asshown in for example FIG. 2, use is made of an editing system 9comprised of editing apparatuses 90₁ and 90₂, connected to a serversystem 8, each of which having two audio and/or video data inputterminals and one audio and/or video output terminal (AV) and a controlsignal terminal (C) corresponding to each of these audio and/or videosignal input/output terminals and performing cutting to connect aplurality of audio and/or video data or addition of special effects tothe audio and/or video data. The editor edits the audio and/or videodata supplied from the server system 8 by using the editing apparatuses90₁ and 90₂ and records the result in the server system 8 again.

However, the server system 8 shown in FIG. 1 is not always suitable forrecording and reproducing the high quality audio and/or video data of atelevision broadcasting station. The reason for this will be explainedbelow.

First, if the server system 8 were to handle the high quality audioand/or video data of a level as used in a television broadcastingstation, the data transfer capability of its bus would be insufficientand the system size or an expansion property of the system would belimited.

That is, the data rate of the current digital format of the televisionaudio and/or video data is 100 Mbps or more. Also, the coded audioand/or video data obtained by high efficient coding of this audio and/orvideo data has a data rate of about 30 Mbps (4 MBps), as disclosed infor example the CCIR recommendation 723, taking the deterioration due tothe editing into account.

For example, if trying to allow eight editors to simultaneously performediting (so-called AB roll editing) using two stock videos of 30 Mbps (4MBps) in the server system 8, when taking the necessity of buffering theaudio and/or video data as mentioned above into account, as much as 48[=3 (due to the necessity of simultaneously reproducing two stock videosand recording one video after editing)×2 (reciprocation for buffering)×8(number of editors)] series of coded audio and/or video data would besimultaneously transferred on the high speed bus 404. Accordingly, aneffective data transfer rate of 192 Mbps a the lowest would be requiredfor just the transfer of the coded audio and/or video data to the highspeed bus 404.

Further, when transferring the audio and/or video data to theinput/output interfaces 407_(n), there is a limitation inherent in theserver system 8 in a television broadcasting station that noinstantaneous disconnection may occur. Therefore, there also arises aproblem of the processing capability of the CPU 401 controlling the highspeed bus 404 and the RAM 403. In addition, the physical transfer speedof the bus in a high performance computer is usually about 100 Mbps.According to the configuration of the server system 8 shown in FIG. 1,realization of editing in which as many as about eight editors can sharethe use of the stock video is not always technically easy.

Further, when realizing a server system useable in a televisionbroadcasting station, the server system must be brought into slavesynchronization with a synchronization signal or time stamp suppliedfrom the outside.

Usually, the transmission and reception of audio and/or video databetween the broadcasting equipment in a television broadcasting stationare carried out in strict synchronization with a referencesynchronization signal or time code for the audio and/or video data.

Accordingly, to connect the already existing broadcasting apparatuseswith a server system, it is necessary to input and output (input/output)the audio and/or video data of the server system in synchronization withthe reference synchronization signal or the like. However, in a serversystem 8, which performs the transfer of audio and/or video data byusing a basically asynchronously operating computer, it is not alwayseasy to input/output the audio and/or video data in synchronization witha reference synchronization signal or time code.

That is, in the server system 8 having the configuration shown in FIG.1, when the transfer and exchange (routing) of the audio and/or videodata are carried out by using the asynchronous high speed bus 404 andRAM 403, after the audio and/or video data to be originally transmittedin synchronization with the reference synchronization signal etc. havepassed through the asynchronous transfer system inside the server system8, synchronous/asynchronous conversion processing for bringing the sameinto synchronization with the external reference synchronization signalagain becomes necessary. Therefore, the size of the apparatus becomeslarger and also the manufacturing cost rises.

Further, in the editing system 9 shown in FIG. 2, each of the editingapparatuses 90₁ and 90₂ must be provided with all of the data processingmeans for the editing. Provision, for example, of an expensive dataprocessing means which is rarely used in each of the editing apparatuses90₁ and 90₂ raises the cost of the editing apparatuses 90₁ and 90₂.

The server system 8 and the editing system 9 shown in FIG. 1 suffer fromthe problems as mentioned above. It is necessary to find measures tosolve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide in a broadcastingsystem of a television broadcasting station, audio and/or video datarecording and reproduction apparatus whereby the size and functions ofthe server system for the audio and/or video data can be changed inaccordance with the size of operations of the individual televisionbroadcasting station or the type of operations to which the broadcastingsystem is applied in the same television broadcasting station, thechange of the functions and configuration is easy, the expandability ishigh, and the cost is low.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an audioand/or video data recording and reproduction apparatus which can supplythe audio and/or video data serving as stock for a plurality of editingapparatuses in an editing system, can record the edited data, and inaddition enables shared use of an expensive data processing means forediting among these editing apparatuses and consequently can lower thecost of the editing apparatus.

To attain the above objects, the video data recording and reproductionapparatus of the present invention having: a recording and reproducingmeans for recording and reproducing video data with respect to a storagemedium; a plurality of input/output control means for receiving acontrol signal from an external apparatus and inputting and outputtingthe video data between the recording and reproducing means and theexternal apparatus based on the control signal; and a data processingmeans for performing predetermined special effect processing on thereceived video data based on the control signal received from theexternal apparatus via the input/output control means and supplying theprocessed video data to the recording and reproducing means.

Preferably the recording and reproducing means responds to the controlsignal from the external apparatus via the input/output control meansand supplies to the data processing means, data indicating the area onthe storage medium in which video data to be reproduced is stored andthe data indicating the area on the storage medium in which video dataprocessed by the special effect processing by the data processing meansis stored and the data processing means makes the recording andreproducing means reproduce the video data based on the received dataindicating the area and make the recording and reproducing means storethe video data processed by the predetermined special effect processingto the storage medium.

Further, preferably the data processing means makes the recording andreproducing means store only the video data in a video period processedby the predetermined special effect processing.

Further, preferably when the input/output control means receives arequest for reproduction of video data processed by the predeterminedspecial effect processing from the external apparatus, the recording andreproducing means reproduces the video data in a video period processedby the predetermined special effect processing and the video data to beassigned forward and backward thereof based on the data indicating thearea received from the recording and reproducing means.

Further, to attain the above objects, the audio and/or video datarecording and reproduction apparatus of the present invention having: arecording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing audioand/or video data with respect to the storage medium; a plurality ofinput/output control means for receiving a control signal from anexternal apparatus respectively and inputting and outputting the audioand/or video data between the recording and reproducing means and theexternal apparatus based on the control signal; and a data processingmeans for performing predetermined special effect processing on thereceived audio and/or video data based on the control signal receivedfrom the external apparatus via the input/output control means andsupplying the processed audio and/or video data to the recording andreproducing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned objects and features and other objects and featuresof the present invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription given with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of an example of a conventional server system for audioand/or video data;

FIG. 2 is a view of an example of a conventional editing system foraudio and/or video data;

FIG. 3 is a view of the configuration of a data recording andreproduction apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a view of the configuration of a first AV data input/outputcircuit;

FIG. 5 is a view of a signal sequence between component parts of a datarecording and reproduction apparatus where the audio and/or video dataAre recorded in a storage device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view of the signal sequence between structural parts of thedata recording and reproduction apparatus where the audio and/or videodata recorded in the storage device are reproduced;

FIG. 7 is a view of the configuration of an AV data input/output controlcircuit according a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view of the configuration of a data recording andreproduction apparatus according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a view of the configuration of an AV data processing circuitfor compressed audio and/or video data of a third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view of the configuration of an AV data processing circuitfor noncompressed audio and/or video data of the third embodiment;

FIGS. 11A to 11H are views illustrating the contents of the processingperformed by the processing circuits of the data processing circuitsshown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 with respect to audio and/or video data;

FIG. 12 is a view of the signal sequence among the component parts ofthe data according and reproduction apparatus when the data processingcircuits shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 performs the processing withrespect to the audio and/or video data reproduced by the recordingapparatus; and

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the connection configuration of theexternal apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and the data recording andreproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Below, a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a view of the configuration of a data recording andreproduction apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the data recording and reproduction apparatus 1 isconstituted by n number of audio and/or video data input/output controlcircuits (AV data input/output control circuits) 10₁ to 10_(n), arecording and reproduction control circuit 34, asynchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24, a storage device 26having a hard disk array, a synchronization signal interface circuit(synchronization signal IF circuit) 28, a time code interface circuit(TCIF circuit) 30, a multiplexing control interface circuit(multiplexing IF circuit) 32.

In the data recording and reproduction apparatus 1, the AV datainput/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n) and thesynchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24 are connected to eachother via a data bus 22, while the recording and reproductioncontrolling circuit 34, the AV data input/output control circuits 10₁ to10_(n), and the storage device 26 are connected to each other via acontrol bus 20.

Further, the AV data input/output control circuits 10₁ receive as inputa reference synchronization signal S28 from the outside, for example, anexternal apparatus 2 (host controller system) such as an editing devicevia the synchronization signal IF circuit 28 according to need, receiveas input a time code S30 indicating the time of the audio and/or videodata and used for the establishment of synchronization via the TCIFcircuit 30, and receive as input a package control signal S32controlling the operation of the AV data input/output controllingcircuits 10₁ to 10_(n) all together via the multiplexing IF circuit 32.

Further, the data recording and reproduction apparatus 1 can transferthe audio and/or video data on the data bus 22 in synchronization withthe reference synchronization signal and time code etc. input from theoutside. Further, package input/output control with respect to aplurality of audio and/or video data becomes possible by connecting ahost application system such as an editing apparatus via the AV datainput/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n).

By these component parts, the data recording and reproduction apparatus1 disperses the load of the input/output control and the recording andreproduction control regarding the audio and/or video data,simultaneously inputs and outputs the audio and/or video data ofmultiple channels, and records and reproduces the same.

FIG. 4 is a view of the configuration of the first AV data input/outputcontrol circuits 10_(i) (i is integer; 1≦i≦n, same below).

Where noncompressed audio and/or video data are input and output betweenthe external apparatus 2 and the storage device 26, as shown in FIG. 4,use is made of the first AV data input/output control circuits 10_(i)each constituted by a microprocessor (CPU) 102, a memory circuit (MEM)112, and a data bus interface circuit (data bus IF) 114.

In such a AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i), themicroprocessor 102 is constituted by a single chip microprocessor etc.including a ROM storing for example the programs.

Further, the microprocessor 102 transmits and receives the controlsignals S10a_(i) with the external apparatus 2 and transmits andreceives the control signals with the recording and reproductioncontrolling circuit 34 via the control bus 20.

Further, the microprocessor 102 controls the operation of the memorycircuit 112 and the data bus IF 114 to control the input/output of theaudio and/or video data between the external apparatus 2 and the storagedevice 26 based on the control signal input from the recording andreproduction control circuit 34, the control signals S10a_(i) input fromthe external apparatus 2, and, if necessary, the referencesynchronization signal S28, reference synchronization signal S28 inputvia the TCIF circuit 30 and the multiplexing IF circuit 32, the timecode S30, and the package control signal S32.

The data bus IF 114 inputs and outputs the audio and/or video data viathe data bus 22 with the storage device 26 under the control of themicroprocessor 102. That is, it outputs the audio and/or video databuffered in the memory circuit 112 to the storage device 26(synchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24) and outputs the audioand/or video data input from the storage device 26 to the data memorycircuit 112.

The memory circuit 112 buffers the audio and/or video data S10b_(i)input from the external apparatus 2 under the control of themicroprocessor 102 and outputs the same via the data bus IF 114 to thestorage device 26 (synchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24).

Further, the memory circuit 112 buffers the audio and/or video datainput from the storage device 26 via the data bus IF 114 and outputs thesame as the audio and/or video data S10c_(i) to the external apparatus2.

Referring to FIG. 3 again, the component parts of the data recording andreproduction apparatus 1 other than the AV data input/output controlcircuits 10_(i) will be explained.

The recording and reproduction control circuit 34 transmits and receivesthe control signal with the AV data input/output control circuits10_(i), the synchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24, and thestorage device 26 via the control bus 20 to control the operation ofthese component parts.

Further, the recording and reproduction controlling circuit 34 managesthe recording regions of the storage device 26, determines the recordingregion of the storage device 26 in which the audio and/or video data areto be recorded when it receives a recording request signal of the audioand/or video data with respect to the storage device 26 from an AV datainput/output control circuit 10_(i), and notifies this to the AV datainput/output control circuit 10_(i), while when the reproduction requestsignal of the audio and/or video data recorded in the storage device 26is requested from the AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i),searches for the recording region of the storage device 26 in which theaudio and/or video data to be reproduced are recorded and notifies thefound recording region to the AV data input/output control circuit10_(i).

The synchronization signal IF circuit 28 receives the referencesynchronization signal such as a house clock used for establishingsynchronization of the broadcast apparatus in the televisionbroadcasting station in synchronization with the audio and/or video data10b_(i) and 10c_(i) handled by the external apparatus 2 and supplies thesame as the reference synchronization signal S28 to the AV datainput/output control circuits 10_(i) and the synchronous/asynchronousconversion circuit 24.

The TCIF circuit 30 receives a time code which is input from the outsidesuch as the external apparatus 2, indicates the elapsed time or displaytime of the audio and/or video data etc., and is used for establishingsynchronization between the audio and video in the external apparatus 2and supplies the same as the time code S30 to the AV data input/outputcontrol circuits 10_(i) and the synchronous/asynchronous conversioncircuit 24.

The multiplexing IF circuit 32 receives the package control signal whichis input from the outside such as the external apparatus 2, instructsthe same processing content with respect to all of the AV datainput/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n), and controls them togetherand supplies this as the package control signal S32 to the AV datainput/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n).

The synchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24 is used where datatransfer in synchronization with the reference synchronization signalS28 or the time code S30 is carried out on the data bus 22,asynchronously records the audio and/or video data input from the AVdata input/output control circuits 10_(i) via the data bus 22 insynchronization with these signals in the storage device 26, and outputsthe audio and/or video data asynchronously reproduced by the storagedevice 26 to the AV data input/output control circuits 10_(i) via thedata bus 22 in synchronization with these signals.

The storage device 26 records the audio and/or video data input from theAV data input/output control circuits 10_(i) via the data bus 22 and thesynchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24 on the predeterminedrecording medium, for example, a hard disc, magnetic-optical disc, orsemiconductor memory. under the control of the recording andreproduction control circuit 34 via the control bus 20 and reproducesthe recorded audio and/or video data and outputs the same to the AV datainput/output control circuits 10_(i) via the synchronous/asynchronousconversion circuit 24 and the data bus 22.

Below, the operation of the data recording and reproduction apparatus 1will be explained.

FIG. 5 is a view of the signal sequence between component parts of thedata recording and reproduction apparatus 1 where the audio and/or videodata are recorded in the storage device 26. Note that, in FIG. 5,exceptional processing such as a case where there is no empty recordingregion in the storage device 26 is omitted for the simplification of theexplanation.

As shown in FIG. 5, the recording request signal is output from theexternal apparatus 2 to an AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i)as the control signal S10a_(i).

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving the recordingrequest signal outputs the recording request signal to the recording andreproduction control circuit 34 via the control bus 20.

The recording and reproduction control circuit 34 receiving therecording request signal searches for an empty recording region of thestorage device 26 and outputs the region assignment signal indicatingthe recording region assigned to the audio and/or video data for whichthe recording was requested to the AV data input/output control circuit10_(i) and the storage device 26.

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving the regionassignment signal outputs a recording enable signal to the externalapparatus 2 as the control signal S10a_(i).

The external apparatus 2 receiving the recording enable signal outputs arecording command signal to the AV data input/output control circuit10_(i), and the AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) outputs therecording command signal received to the storage device 26 via thecontrol bus 20.

Further, the external apparatus 2 outputs the real time audio and/orvideo data S10b_(i) (not illustrated in FIG. 5) for which the recordingis requested to the storage device 26 to the AV data input/outputcontrol circuit 10_(i).

The audio and/or video data S10b_(i) output by the external apparatus 2is recorded in the storage device 26 via the AV data input/outputcontrol circuit 10_(i) and the data bus 22.

When the audio and/or video data are recorded in all of the recordingregions assigned by the recording and reproduction control circuit 34,the storage device 26 outputs a recording completion notification signalto the AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) via the control bus20.

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving the recordingcompletion notification signal outputs the recording completionnotification signal to the external apparatus 2.

FIG. 6 is a view of the signal sequence between the component parts ofthe data recording and reproduction apparatus 1 where the audio and/orvideo data recorded in the storage device 26 are reproduced. Note that,in FIG. 6, for the simplification of explanation, exceptional processingsuch as a case where the audio and/or video data for which thereproduction was requested are not recorded in the storage device 26 isomitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the external apparatus 2 outputs the reproductionrequest signal requesting the reproduction of the audio and/or videodata recorded in the storage device 26 to an AV data input/outputcontrol circuit 10_(i) as the control signal S10a_(i).

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving thereproduction request signal outputs the reproduction request signal tothe recording and reproduction control circuit 34 via the control bus20.

The recording and reproduction control circuit 34 receiving thereproduction request signal searches for the region of the storagedevice 26 in which the audio and/or video data for which thereproduction was requested is recorded and outputs a region notificationsignal indicating the found recording region to the AV data input/outputcontrol circuit 10_(i) and the storage device 26 via the control bus 20.

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving the regionnotification signal outputs a reproduction enable signal as the controlsignal 10a_(i) to the external apparatus 2.

The external apparatus 2 receiving the reproduction enable signaloutputs a reproduction command signal as the control signal S10a_(i) tothe AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i), and the AV datainput/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving the reproduction commandsignal outputs the reproduction command signal via the control bus 20 tothe storage device 26.

The storage device 26 receiving the reproduction command signalreproduces the audio and/or video data for which the reproduction wasrequested from the recording region indicated by the region notificationsignal received from the recording and reproduction control circuit 34and outputs this to the AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) viathe data bus 22.

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) outputs the audio and/orvideo data received from the storage device 26 as the audio and/or videodata S10c_(i) to the external apparatus 2 (not illustrated in FIG. 6).

The storage device 26 outputs the reproduction completion notificationsignal to the AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) via thecontrol bus 20 when terminating the reproduction of all of the audioand/or video data from the recording region indicated by the regionnotification signal received from the recording and reproduction controlcircuit 34.

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving thereproduction completion notification signal outputs the reproductioncompletion notification to the recording and reproduction controlcircuit 34 via the control bus 20.

The recording and reproduction control circuit 34 receiving thereproduction completion notification signal outputs the reproductioncompletion recognition notification signal to the AV data input/outputcontrol circuit 10_(i) via the control bus 20.

The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) receiving thereproduction completion recognition notification outputs thereproduction processing completion notification signal to the externalapparatus 2 as the control signal S10a_(i).

Note that, where the same control signal (package control signal S32) isinput to all of the AV data input/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n)from the outside such as the external apparatus 2 via the multiplexingIF circuit 32, all of the AV data input/output control circuits 10₁ to10_(n) perform the same recording or reproduction operation.

Further, where the AV data input/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n)and the synchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24 are controlled sothat the reference synchronization signal S28 or the time code S30 isinput from the synchronization signal IF circuit 28 or the TCIF circuit30 and the recording and reproduction control circuit 34 performs thedata transfer in synchronization with the reference synchronizationsignal S28 or the time code S30, the transfer of the audio and/or videodata on the data bus 22 is carried out in synchronization with thesesignals.

Below, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a view of the configuration of a AV data input/output controlcircuit 40_(i) according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the AV data input/output control circuit 40_(i) hasa structure obtained by adding a compressing and coding circuit 120 andan expanding and decoding circuit 122 between the memory circuit 112 ofthe AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) shown in FIG. 4 and theexternal apparatus 2.

The AV data input/output control circuit 40_(i) is used in place of theAV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) to input and output thenoncompressed audio and/or video data 10b_(i) and 10c_(i) with theexternal apparatus 2 in the data recording and reproduction apparatus 1shown in FIG. 3 and records and reproduces the compressed and codedaudio and/or video data with respect to the storage device 26.

The compressing and coding circuit 120 compresses and codes thenoncompressed audio and/or video data S10b_(i) input from the externalapparatus 2 by a compressing and coding system such as the MPEG andoutputs the resultant data to the memory circuit 112.

The expanding and decoding circuit 122 expands and decodes thecompressed and coded audio and/or video data input from the data bus IF114 and outputs the resultant data as the audio and/or video dataS10c_(i) to the external apparatus 2.

Below, the operation of the data recording and reproduction apparatus 1using the AV data input/output control circuit 40_(i) in place of the AVdata input/output control circuit 10_(i) will be simply explained.

By the signal sequence shown in FIG. 5, the noncompressed audio and/orvideo data input from the external apparatus 2 to the compressing andcoding circuit 120 are compressed and coded by the compressing andcoding circuit 120, output to the storage device 26 via the memorycircuit 112 and the data bus IF 114, and recorded on the predeterminedrecording medium by the storage device 26.

Further, by the signal sequence shown in FIG. 6, the compressed audioand/or video data reproduced from the storage device 26 are input to theexpanding and decoding circuit 122 via the data bus IF 114 and thememory circuit 112, expanded and decoded, and then output to theexternal apparatus 2.

By providing the compressing and coding circuit 120 and the expandingand decoding circuit 122 in the AV data input/output control circuit40_(i), the audio and/or video data S10_(i) input as the audio and/orvideo data of the base band can be compressed and coded and recorded inthe storage device 26 and the compressed audio and/or video datareproduced by the storage device 26 can be output as the audio and/orvideo data S10c_(i) of the base band to the external apparatus 2.

Note that, it is also possible to constitute the compressing and codingcircuit 120 and the expanding and decoding circuit 122 to handle eitherof the audio data or the video data.

Further, where synchronous data transfer in the control bus 20 is notnecessary, it is also possible to omit the synchronous/asynchronousconversion circuit 24 or to stop the operation of thesynchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24.

Below, a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

It is possible to constitute a similar editing system to the editingsystem 9 shown in FIG. 2 even using the data recording and reproductionapparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment. In the editing system 9 shownin FIG. 2, however, all editing apparatuses must be provided with all ofthe data processing means.

The data recording and reproduction apparatus 3 shown in the thirdembodiment was made so as to solve such a problem and adopts aconfiguration in which a data processing circuit 60 is added to the datarecording and reproduction apparatus 1 so that the data processingcircuit 60 can be used in common among a plurality of externalapparatuses 2 such as editing apparatuses.

FIG. 8 is a view of the configuration of a data recording andreproduction apparatus 3 according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. Note that, among the component parts of the data recordingand reproduction apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 8, the same component partsas those of the data recording and reproduction apparatus 1 shown inFIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 8, the data recording and reproduction apparatus 3 has,as the same component parts as those of the data recording andreproduction apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment and the secondembodiment, n number of AV data input/output control circuits 10₁ to10_(n) for the audio and/or video data, a recording and reproductioncontrol circuit 34, a synchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24, astorage device 26, a synchronization signal IF circuit 28, a TCIFcircuit 30, and a multiplexing IF circuit 32. Further, the datarecording and reproduction apparatus 3 has an AV data processing circuit60 as a different component part from that of the data recording andreproduction apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment and the secondembodiment.

In the data recording and reproduction apparatus 3, the AV dataprocessing circuit 60 performs a predetermined processing with respectto the audio and/or video data reproduced from the storage device 26,for example, a special effect processing such as processing for makingthe boundary of the two scenes in the audio and/or video data comprisingof two scenes appear to gradually shift from the video before theboundary to the video after the boundary.

Note that, the AV data processing circuit 60 is connected to thesynchronous/asynchronous conversion circuit 24 via the data bus 22 inthe same way as the AV data input/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n).Further, the AV data processing circuit 60 is connected to the recordingand reproduction control circuit 34 and the storage device 26 via thecontrol bus 20.

Further, the AV data processing circuit 60 receives as input thereference synchronization signal S28 from the external apparatus 2 viathe synchronization signal IF circuit 28 according to need in the sameway as the AV data input/output control circuits 1-₁ to 10_(n).

Further, the AV data processing circuit 60 receives as input a time codeS30 which indicates the time of the audio and/or video data used for theestablishment of synchronization via the TCIF circuit 30.

Further, the AV data processing circuit 60 receives as input the packagecontrol signal S32 via the multiplexing IF circuit 32 which is used forcontrolling the operations of the AV data input/output control circuits10₁ to 10_(n) and the AV data processing circuit 60 together.

In this way, in the data recording and reproduction apparatus 3,transfer of the audio and/or video data on the data bus 22 insynchronization with the reference synchronization signal and time codeetc. input from the outside is possible.

FIG. 9 is a view of the configuration of the AV data processing circuit60 for the compressed audio and/or video data in the third embodiment.Note that, among the component parts of the AV data processing circuit60 shown in FIG. 9, the same component parts as those of the AV datainput/output control circuits 10₁ to 10_(n) shown in FIG. 4 are giventhe same reference numerals.

The data processing circuit 60 is used where the audio and/or video datacompressed and coded by the storage device 26 are recorded andreproduced. As shown in FIG. 9, the data processing circuit 60 isconstituted by a microprocessor 102, a memory circuit 112, a data bus IF114, a compressing circuit 120, an expanding circuit 122, buffercircuits 600₁ and 600₂, a processing circuit 602, and a buffer circuit604. The data processing circuit 60 once expands and decodes thecompressed audio and/or video data reproduced in the storage device 26by these component parts, performs the predetermined processing,compresses and encodes the same again, and records the resultant data inthe storage device 26.

The buffer circuits 600₁ and 600₂ constitute a double buffer and bufferthe noncompressed audio and/or video data expanded and decoded by theexpanding circuit 122 under the control of the microprocessor 102. Thatis, for example the buffer circuits 600₁ and 600₂ buffer two differentseries of audio and/or video data to be edited by the buffer circuits600₁ and 600₂, while the processing circuit 602 performs the processingsuch as fade-in and fade-out etc. with respect to the audio and/or videodata buffered by the buffer circuits 600₁ and 600₂. Note that, as thisprocessing, in addition to fade-in and fade-out, there are theprocessings such as wiping, dissolving and mixing.

The processing circuit 602 performs predetermined processing withrespect to the noncompressed audio and/or video data input from thebuffer circuits 600₁ and 600₂, such as special effect processing formaking, for example, the boundary of the audio and/or video dataobtained as the result of the editing appear to gradually shift from thevideo (A) before the boundary to the video (B) after the boundary (suchprocessing will be also referred to as fade-in and fade-out).

The buffer circuit 604 buffers the audio and/or video data subjected tothe predetermined processing by the processing circuit 602 and matchesthe timing of input and output of the audio and/or video data betweenthe processing circuit 602 and the memory circuit 112.

FIG. 10 is a view of the configuration of the AV data processing circuit62 for the noncompressed audio and/or video data in the thirdembodiment. Note that, among the component parts of the AV dataprocessing circuit 60 shown in FIG. 9, the same references are given tothe same component parts as the AV data input/output control circuits10₁ to 10_(n) shown in FIG. 4 and the data processing circuit 60 shownin FIG. 9.

Note that where the storage device 26 records and reproduces thenoncompressed audio and/or video data or where the storage device 26includes the compressing circuit 120 and the expanding circuit 122 etc.in place of the data processing circuit 60, as shown in FIG. 10, an AVdata processing circuit 62 obtained by removing the memory circuit 112,the compressing circuit 120, and the expanding circuit 122 from the dataprocessing circuit 60 can be used.

FIGS. 11A to 11F are views illustrating the contents of processing to beperformed by the processing circuit 602 of the data processing circuits60 and 62 shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 with respect to the audio and/orvideo data.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the processing circuit 602 receives the audioand/or video data A via the buffer circuit 600₁. And as shown in FIG.9B, the audio and/or video data B via the buffer circuit 600₂.

The processing circuit 602 mixes the audio and/or video data a (FIG.11C) and b (FIG. 11D) between the boundary parts of these audio and/orvideo data (point IN to point OUT shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B) sothat a state where the ratio of the audio and/or video data a is largergradually changes to a state where the ratio of the audio and/or videodata b is larger and thereby generates the audio and/or video data C asshown in FIG. 11E. Further, the processing circuit 602 inserts the audioand/or video data C between the audio and/or video data A' before thepoint IN and the audio and/or video data B' after the point OUT (FIG.11F) as shown in FIG. 11G to generate the audio and/or video data afterthe AB roll processing (FIG. 11H) and outputs this to the storage device26. Note that, it is possible to supply only the audio and/or video dataC to the storage device 26 so that this is stored in the storage device26.

Below, the operation of the data recording and reproduction apparatus 3will be explained.

FIG. 12 is a view of a signal sequence among the component parts of thedata recording and reproduction apparatus 3 when the data processingcircuit 60 (62) shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 performs the processing withrespect to the audio and/or video data reproduced by the storage device26. Note that, in FIG. 12, exceptional processing is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, a special effect preparation request signal isoutput as the control signal S10a_(i) from the editing apparatus(external apparatus 2_(i)) connected to the AV data input/output controlcircuit 10_(i) to the AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i). TheAV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) outputs the special effectpreparation request signal to the recording and reproduction controlcircuit 34, and the recording and reproduction control circuit 34outputs the special effect preparation request signal to the dataprocessing circuit 60 (62).

The data processing circuit 60 receiving the special effect preparationrequest signal performs the preparations for performing the specialeffect processing and, when the preparation is completed, outputs apreparation completion notification to the recording and reproductioncontrol circuit 34. The recording and reproduction control circuit 34and the AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i) return thepreparation completion notification signal to the external apparatus2_(i) as the control signal S10a_(i).

The external apparatus 2_(i) receiving the preparation completionnotification signal designates the audio and/or video data A (FIG. 11A)and B (FIG. 11B) to be covered by the fade-in and fade-out editing, etc.designates the contents of processing (fade-in and fade-out processing,etc.), and outputs a special effect content package notification signalfor requesting the start of processing to an AV data input/outputcontrol circuit 10_(i). The AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i)and the recording and reproduction control circuit 34 output the specialeffect content package notification signal to the data processingcircuit 60 (62).

The data processing circuit 60 (62) receiving the special effect contentpackage notification signal outputs a recognition/processing startnotification to the recording and reproduction control circuit 34. Therecording and reproduction control circuit 34 and the AV datainput/output control circuit 10_(i) output the recognition/processingstart notification to the external apparatus 2_(i).

The data processing circuit 60 outputs a region notification request forrequesting the notification of the recording region in which the audioand/or video data A and B are recorded to the recording and reproductioncontrol circuit 34, and the recording and reproduction control circuit34 outputs the region notification signal indicating the recordingregion in which the audio and/or video data A and B are recorded to thedata processing circuit 60.

The data processing circuit 60 outputs a region request signal forrequesting the allocation of recording regions of the recording mediumof the storage device 26 for recording the processed audio and/or videodata to the recording and reproduction control circuit 34.

The recording and reproduction control circuit 34 received the regionrequest signal outputs the region allocation signal for allocating therecording regions of the recording medium of the storage device 26 forrecording the processed audio and/or video data to the data processingcircuit 60.

The data processing circuit 60 designates the recording region of theaudio and/or video data A and B based on the region notification signaland outputs a reproduction command signal for requesting thereproduction of the audio and/or video data A and B to the storagedevice 26.

The storage device 26 reproduces the audio and/or video data A and B(not illustrated in FIG. 12) based on the reproduction command signaland sequentially outputs the same to the data processing circuit 60. Thedata processing circuit 60 performs the fade-in and fade-out processing,etc. shown in FIGS. 11A to 11H with respect to the audio and/or videodata A and B input from the storage device 26.

The storage device 26 outputs a reproduction completion notificationsignal to the data processing circuit 60 at a point of time when thereproduction is completed.

The data processing circuit 60 outputs a recording command signal fordesignating the recording region in which the processed audio and/orvideo data are to be recorded to record them at the storage device 26based on the region allocation signal.

The storage device 26 sequentially records the audio and/or video datainput from the data processing circuit 60 based on the recording commandsignal.

When the recording of the audio and/or video data is ended, the storagedevice 26 outputs a recording completion notification signal to the dataprocessing circuit 60. The data processing circuit 60, the recording andreproduction control circuit 34, and the AV data input/output controlcircuit 10_(i) output the recording completion notification signal tothe AV data input/output control circuit 10_(i).

Note that, it is possible to store the audio and video data A', C, B'shown in FIG. 11G as the processed audio and/or video data with respectto the allocated area in the storage device 26 or store only the audioand/of video data as the processed audio and/or video data with respectto the allocated area in the storage device 26. The method ofreproduction of the audio and/or video data when storing only the audioand/or video data C as the processed audio and/or video data withrespect to the allocated area in the storage device 26 and afterwardobtaining the processed audio and video A, ' C, B' from the storagedevice 26 will be explained. In this case, first it reproduces the audioand/or video data to the point shown in FIG. 11A based on the datareceived from the recording and reproduction control circuit 34 andindicating the area in which the audio and/or video data is stored, thenreproduces the audio and/or video data C shown FIG. 11E performed by thespecial effect processing and stored in the designated area, and then itreproduces the audio and/or video data B from the point Q shown in FIG.11A to be able to get the processed audio and/or data A', C, B'. In thiscase, it is not need to store the audio and/or video data A', B' to thestorage 26, so that it is possible to use the capacity of the storagedevice 26 efficiently.

Note that, in the data recording and reproduction apparatus 3, as shownin FIG. 13, n number of external apparatuses 2₁ to 2_(n) are connectedand all of the external apparatuses 2₁ to 2_(n) can utilize the specialeffect processing by the data processing circuit 60.

Further, a configuration wherein the data recording and reproductionapparatus 3 has a plurality of AV data processing circuits 60 is alsopossible.

Further, modification the same as those shown in the first embodimentand the second embodiment are also possible with respect to the datarecording and reproduction apparatus 3 shown in the third embodiment.

According to the above explained audio and/or video data recording andreproduction apparatus of the present invention, in a broadcastingsystem of a television broadcasting station, the size and functions ofthe server system for the audio and/or video data can be changed inaccordance with the size of operations of the individual televisionbroadcasting station or the type of operations to which the broadcastingsystem is applied in the same television broadcasting station, thechange of the functions and configuration is easy, the expandability ishigh, and the cost is low.

Further, in an editing system using the above explained audio and/orvideo data recording and reproduction apparatus according to the presentinvention, it is possible to supply the audio and/or video data servingas stock for a plurality of editing apparatuses in an editing system andrecord the edited data and in addition possible to share use of anexpensive data processing means for editing among these editingapparatuses and consequently lower the cost of the editing apparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video data recording and reproduction apparatushaving:a common data bus; a common control bus; recording andreproducing control means directly coupled to said common control busand not directly coupled to said common data bus for controllingrecording and reproducing of video data with respect to a storagemedium; a plurality of external apparatuses; a plurality of input/outputcontrol means each coupled to a respective external apparatus forreceiving a number of control signals from the respective externalapparatus and for inputting and outputting said video data between saidstorage medium and the respective external apparatus based on saidnumber of control signals; and a single data processing device coupledby way of said common data bus and said common control bus to each ofsaid plurality of input/output control means for performingpredetermined special effect processing on received video data based onat least one control signal received from the respective externalapparatus via the respective input/output control means and outputtingsaid processed video data; wherein each of said input/output controlmeans and said single data processing device are directly coupled to thecommon data bus and common control bus.
 2. A video data recording andreproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recordingand reproducing control means responds to the respective said number ofcontrol signals from said external apparatus via said input/outputcontrol means and supplies to said data processing means, dataindicating the area on said storage medium in which video data to bereproduced is stored and the data indicating the area on said storagemedium in which video data processed by the special effect processing bysaid data processing means is stored and said data processing meansmakes said recording and reproducing control means reproduce said videodata based on the received data indicating said area and makes saidrecording and reproducing control means store said video data processedby the predetermined special effect processing to said storage medium.3. A video data recording and reproduction apparatus as set forth inclaim 2, whereinsaid data processing means makes said recording andreproducing control means store only the video data in a video periodprocessed by the predetermined special effect processing.
 4. A videodata recording and reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 3,whereinwhen said input/output control means receives a request forreproduction of video data processed by the predetermined special effectprocessing from the respective external apparatus, said recording andreproducing control means reproduces the video data in a video periodprocessed by the predetermined special effect processing and the videodata to be assigned forward and backward thereof based on the dataindicating the area received from said recording and reproducing controlmeans.
 5. An audio and/or video data recording and reproductionapparatus having:a common data bus; a common control bus; recording andreproducing control means directly coupled to said common control busand not directly coupled to said common data bus for controllingrecording and reproducing of audio and/or video data with respect to astorage medium; a plurality of external apparatuses; a plurality ofinput/output control means each coupled to a respective externalapparatus for receiving a number of control signals from the respectiveexternal apparatus and for inputting and outputting said audio and/orvideo data between said storage medium and the respective externalapparatus based on said number of control signals; and data processingmeans coupled by way of said common data bus and said common control busto each of said plurality of input/output control means for performingpredetermined special effect processing on received audio and/or videodata based on at least one control signal received from the respectiveexternal apparatus via the respective input/output control means andoutputting said processed audio and/or video data; wherein each of saidinput/output control means and said single data processing means aredirectly coupled to the common data bus and the common control bus.
 6. Avideo data recording and reproducing apparatus having:recording andreproducing control means for controlling recording and reproducing ofvideo data with respect to a storage medium; a plurality of externalapparatuses; a plurality of input/output control means each coupled to arespective external apparatus for receiving a number of control signalsfrom the respective external apparatus and for inputting and outputtingsaid video data between said storage medium and the respective externalapparatus based on said number of control signals; a single dataprocessing device coupled to each of said plurality of input/outputcontrol means for performing predetermined special effect processing onreceived video data based on at least one control signal received fromthe respective external apparatus via the respective input/outputcontrol means and outputting said processed video data; a common controlbus coupled to the plurality of input/output control means, saidrecording and reproducing control means and said storage medium throughwhich control signals are transmitted; and a common data bus, separatefrom said common control bus, coupled to said plurality of input/outputcontrol means through which the video data is transmitted therefrom,wherein the recording and reproducing control means is directly coupledto said common control bus and is not directly coupled to said commondata bus, and wherein each of said input/output control means and saidsingle data processing device are directly coupled to the common databus and the common control bus such that said single data processingdevice is coupled by way of said common data bus and said common controlbus to each of said plurality of input/output control means.
 7. Anaudio/video data recording and reproducing apparatus having:recordingand reproducing control means for controlling recording and reproducingof audio and/or video data with respect to a storage medium; a pluralityof external apparatuses; a plurality of input/output control means eachcoupled to a respective external apparatus for receiving a number ofcontrol signals from the respective external apparatus and for inputtingand outputting said audio and/or video data between said storage mediumand the respective external apparatus based on said number of controlsignals; a single data processing device coupled to each of saidplurality of input/output control means for performing predeterminedspecial effect processing on received audio and/or video data based onat least one control signal received from the respective externalapparatus via the respective input/output control means and outputtingsaid processed audio and/or video data; a common control bus coupled tothe plurality of input/output control means, said recording andreproducing control means and said storage medium through which controlsignals are transmitted; and a common data bus, separate from saidcommon control bus, coupled to said plurality of input/output controlmeans through which the audio/video data is transmitted, wherein therecording and reproducing control means is directly coupled to saidcommon control bus and is not directly coupled to said common data bus,and wherein each of said input/output control means and said dataprocessing device are directly coupled to the common data bus and thecommon control bus such that said single data processing device iscoupled by way of said common data bus and said common control bus toeach of said plurality of input/output control means.